Chapter 53

Huang Bao Clan

The expressions of the young disciples and the guards of the Huang Bao Clan instantly changed. Dozens of faces transformed one after another.

"Yunhuang City? Why Yunhuang City...?"

"What kind of aura is this?"

"Yunhuang City's blue? Could it be Ma Guangyi!"

"They said it was a minor sect. Those black robes and that aura, aren't they the leaders of Yunhuang City? How could there be three of them...!"

The people of the clan, who boasted that they could discuss the world, could not hide their inner thoughts.

Even the saber expert Huang Baozhun was taken aback. His confusion was evident, and he seemed to be filled with doubt and shock.

"I've heard of Yunhuang City's blue at his age..."

Huang Minglin's lower lip trembled. His voice was no different.

"Island of the Sword... Gouguo, you... you were Yunhuang City's Island of the Sword?"

"It's not a name that would spread to Shandong. Isn't it quite far?"

Zheng Lianxin answered a bit bewildered. He had heard of people like Huang Minglin.

There were those who collected rumors about martial artists who did not influence the major trends of the jianghu, finding them interesting.

The Open Sect and Xiaomen were known for this.

Yunhuang City was a place watched by the entire martial world. It seemed he had come across the name 'Island of the Sword' while investigating new experts.

"Exactly, exactly why? I treated you better than anyone else."

Huang Minglin's question was rather puzzling. Zheng Lianxin recounted what he had heard.

"Respect is a laughable matter. Everyone knows that the martial world treats Yunhuang City coldly."

"......Why did you hide your identity?"

"Being a martial artist of Yunhuang City, what other reason could there be besides a mission?"

"Mission?"

The saber expert interjected. The imposing aura of the middle-aged sword expert vanished.

His face was solemn, and his eyes, which kept sweeping over the experts of Yunhuang City, were trembling with unease.

At that moment,

"Your Highness, I did not recognize you!"

One of the young disciples suddenly knelt down. The dull thud was not ordinary.

Those around him tried to dissuade him, looking bewildered.

"Xian (千) Xiaoye, why are you doing this? Your Highness?"

"If he is the direct disciple of the Yunhuang City Lord, isn't he a prince? I've heard that it has been so for generations. Since he doesn't seem to be a noble, how could a commoner receive martial arts from him?"

It was a ridiculous commotion. Zheng Lianxin turned his head without answering.

His eyes met with Ma Jin, who had approached him.

Concern was evident in the scar that ran across his face.

It seemed that Zheng Lianxin's condition was so poor that it was obvious even to someone who wasn't a noble.

"......I didn't anticipate the multiple thunder bombs. Are your internal injuries okay?"

Ma Jin asked, his lips slightly twisted. Zheng Lianxin nodded calmly and spoke.

"You came to assess the situation in Huizhou. By any chance, do you know what happened to Huashan Sect's You Xian?"

"Are you talking about the youngest disciple of the Huashan Sect's leader? The Nan Gong Clan immediately responded and protected him. I heard that this young Taoist, You Xian, has already destroyed a few branches of the Blood Flame Sect and the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. The Huashan Sect left Huizhou a long time ago."

"I see."

He was relieved, but also secretly surprised.

It was troubling that the situation had become so chaotic that he had lost touch with You Xian.

Even if You Xian was one of his few close friends, the time they had spent together was not long. He was surprised by the depth of their bond.

'Is it because he approached me warmly, saying he would come to Yunhuang City?'

Reflecting on it, he had very few close friends of his own age.

The imperial grandson, Zhu Yunming, was not yet one. Perhaps only You Xian, Xin Xiaobin, and the demon of Yunhuang, Ma Sei.

The sword dragon Wei Zhimiaohua of the Zhongnan Sect was considered a sister between them and Bai Meili.

Each time he went on a mission, he made one friend. Reflecting on it, it wasn't bad.

If he were to die without eating the fruit of the Heavenly Tree, at least there would be people who would remember him.

'There's nothing particularly worth thinking about.'

At that moment, the saber expert Huang Baozhun stepped forward.

"From what I heard, you're not a prince. You, not you."

His words, ignored by Zheng Lianxin and Ma Jin, were momentarily cut off. It seemed to be the first humiliation he had ever experienced.

He took a long breath and straightened his posture.

"Xiaoye. And Ma Daxia."

He made a respectful bow. His attitude had completely changed.

If it were only Ma Guangyi, the Eight Great Clans would not have bowed like this.

It seemed he had guessed something from the gathering of the three major forces of the Divine Sword Corps. Cold sweat was even visible on his neck.

"I have heard of the great name of Ma Guangyi. I, Huang Baozhun, spoke falsely about the direct disciple of the Yunhuang City Lord. Please forgive me."

"What false words?"

Ma Jin asked briefly. There was no immediate response.

"Scum, trash, a man without roots."

Xin Xiaobin, who had interjected quickly, chattered. She seemed very excited.

"Isn't this all insulting the leader? I heard that Island of the Sword is from the bloodline of the Yunhuang Demon. He became famous at the clan's ceremony. This is the jianghu! It's said he swallowed the Thunder Selection Pearl in one go while shouting."

"......"

Ma Jin's face hardened coldly. The aura that rose from his scar was extremely cold.

Now, everyone knew that Island of the Sword was the scale of the Yunhuang Demon.

Ma Jin was said to be a warm and kind person despite his appearance. He would not forgive someone who mentioned his roots.

"Huang Bao Clan."

Ma Jin spoke with a blank expression.

"The sin of a minor clan forcing labor on the people is grave. The number reached a thousand."

"......"

"You asked about Island of the Sword's mission. It was to create a gap among the Huang Bao clans that dominate Jinan by force. You made it possible to provide a reason for their extermination. You completed it excellently. You are here, aren't you?"

"What...?"

Huang Baozhun muttered.

It was a story told by the leader of the Divine Sword Corps under Yunhuang City. No one would think it was a lie.

However, admitting guilt was a different matter. Even if they brought out damning evidence, they would have to deny it.

Whether it was a person or a document, no one would admit it in this situation.

Even Zheng Lianxin, who had little jianghu experience, could understand this.

He turned around. He bowed to Ma Jin, the leader of the Extermination Island, and the leader of the Heavenly Creation, taking them all in at once.

"May I respectfully ask, can I announce the start of the battle?"

"Hmm."

The leader of the Extermination Island, dressed in a black robe, was extremely thin.

To unify the command of the three major forces, they needed to establish a unified command system.

It was said that the leader of the Extermination Island temporarily held command authority. This was due to his age, nearly sixty, and his long tenure as a leader.

Ma Jin and the leader of the Heavenly Creation were in their thirties. They were considered quite young as leaders.

"Ma Guangyi, Island of the Sword. I watched his promotion test. It was quite impressive."

The eyes of the extremely powerful expert scrutinized him carefully.

Zheng Lianxin could not help but tense up when he met the piercing gaze.

Unlike the Yunhuang City Lord, who completely concealed his aura, he could fully sense the power.

'He's still far. The level of a leader is completely different.'

It was a moment to feel the black level of Yunhuang City. The leader of the Extermination Island slowly spoke.

"Announce the start of the battle... That was your mission. I permit it."

"Thank you."

Zheng Lianxin bowed slightly while maintaining his bow and then lowered his arms.

Thud.

He turned around and took a step alone. He put the Mingzheng Pill in his mouth, which he had been holding in his left hand.

Like Tai Yanlong, who enjoyed chewing opium poppies, he chewed it roughly without stopping.

He headed straight for where the young disciples and the martial artists of the Huang Bao Clan were gathered.

'They said there's no need to regulate my qi. Indeed.'

It was said to be a combination of the secret techniques of the noble clans and the medicine of the Shaolin Temple.

He felt a cool energy rising from his entire body's meridians. The mysterious power spread throughout his body, healing his internal injuries.

No one dared to act rashly during this time. The three major forces of Yunhuang City exerted a terrifying